South Korean Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Ex-President Yoon Over Martial Law

South Korean prosecutors have requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on rebellion charges related to his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. Yoon, removed from office in April and currently jailed, faces multiple trials including this significant charge. Prosecutors allege his actions aimed to extend his rule by undermining constitutional governance, while Yoon denies wrongdoing, asserting his decree was a lawful attempt to alert the public to political threats. The court is expected to deliver a verdict in February, with death or life imprisonment as possible sentences, though executions have not occurred in South Korea since 1997.